Is Instant Coffee Bad For You?

One thing that always kick starts the day for many of us is instant coffee. Coffee is the most traded food product across the world. Well, perhaps you have no clue about the history of this dark water soluble powder that you keep feeding your system with.

For hundreds of years, people have already been relying on regular coffee, but over the years that were past, instant coffee is now the order of the day.Today, more than 200 billion cups of instant coffee are taken daily.

Instant coffee is pretty simple to prepare and is cheaper compared to regular coffee. Adding a teaspoon of instant coffee granules seems to work best for coffee consumers.

However, as you wake up looking forward to enjoying the instant coffee aroma, ever wondered if there are any health scare associated with this water-soluble dark granules. The truth of the matter is that health concerns revolving around instant coffee have been controversial over the years.

There are claims that instant coffee increases the likelihood of suffering from heart-related diseases and cancer. Nevertheless, we all know that coffee is one of the greatest sources of antioxidants.

In other words, instant coffee has a number of potential health benefits but won’t lack a few cons too. Let’s dig deeper and find whether it is healthy to take instant coffee.

The Good Part of Taking Instant Coffee

Cognitive Effects

Caffeine is the first thing that hits our minds when we think of coffee. However, there is more than that. Scientific studies have established a relationship between instant coffee consumption and cognitive abilities.

This is because coffee produces cortisone and adrenaline hormones both of which have stimulating effects. Those that take more cups of coffee per day in the old age have better cognitive abilities.

Prevents Liver Cirrhosis

Several previous studies have established a less likelihood to suffer from liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and other non-alcoholic fatty diseases among high caffeine consumers.

For instance a study by A.L Klatsky from California Medicine Department has shown that alcoholic cirrhosis cases were 80% less among persons that drunk four or more cups of coffee compared to those that didn’t.

Lowers Cholesterol Levels

All types of coffee contain cafestol, a substance that elevates cholesterol levels in our bodies. Instant coffee, however, contains less of cafestol when compared to regular coffee. Another coffee option that contains less cafestol is filtered coffee.

It is highly advisable to take more of instant coffee is there is a history of high cholesterol or heart diseases in your family. Avoid French press or Turkish coffee and opt for the easy to prepare instant coffee.

Lower Heart Disease Rate

This is one area that has raised the heat in instant coffee health benefits debate. Several studies have proved that there are lower chances of suffering from heart diseases among high coffee consumers compared to those that don’t drink it.

However, other studies have also contradicted the above claims. A study from the American Medical Association also discovered that heart diseases were more likely to occur if the coffee was taken by individuals with a specific gene mutation.

Other Health Benefits of Instant Coffee

If you take more than 3 cups of coffee per day, you can be sure to benefit from the following nutrients

Lower risk of Type-2 diabetes

Source of chromium and potassium

Source of magnesium that plays a major role in blood sugar management

The Bad Side of Instant Coffee

Lower Levels of Antioxidants

Instant coffee goes through various processes such as heating, mixing with water and freezing under vacuum conditions. This reduces the number of antioxidants contained in instant coffee. Coffee is unique is that it is the only food substance that contains Methylpyridinium, a type of antioxidants.